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Project aims

The project aims to develop improved conservation tillage systems, based on subsidiary crops (also known as cover crops) , used both as living and dead mulch, that

increase the duration of soil coverage by plant canopies;

minimize the need for soil tillage and reduce tillage intensity;

increase the diversity of species within the plant canopy and the rotation;

reduce the need for fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides; and

in dry climates, conserve water and reduce need for irrigation.

ORC's role

ORC will lead the dissemination activities in OSCAR and will develop a toolbox for using cover crops and living mulches. See www.covercrops.eu. The core of the experimental programme in OSCAR is a set of coordinated field trials in 12 different environments, ranging from boreal climates in North Europe to Mediterranean and tropical subhumid climates. ORC will host one of these trials.